Himachal Pradesh, grappling with severe weather conditions, has been placed on high alert as authorities issue avalanche warnings across several districts in response to the recent bout of snowfall and rainfall in the region.
The Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) in Chandigarh has raised alarms for the high-altitude regions of Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Shimla, Chamba, and Kullu districts, extending until Thursday.
With 61 casualties reported since January 1 due to various weather-related incidents such as landslides, falls, drowning, and fires, and two individuals still unaccounted for, the situation remains precarious.
Additionally, a staggering 405 roads, including crucial national highways, have been obstructed by snow, while 577 electricity transformers have suffered disruptions, according to state emergency response data.
Among the worst-hit areas, Lahaul and Spiti bear the brunt with 288 inaccessible roads, trailed by Chamba and Kullu with 83 and 21 closures respectively.
Significant snow accumulations, such as 45 cm in Koksar and Atal Tunnel, and 30 cm in Sissu and Kothi, have compounded the challenges.
In terms of precipitation, Manali recorded the highest rainfall at 29 mm, followed by Salooni, Tissa, and Chamba with 25.3 mm, 20 mm, and 16 mm respectively.
Meanwhile, minimum temperatures have plummeted across the board, with several regions experiencing sub-zero conditions.
Kusumseri registered the lowest temperature at minus 7.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Sumdo at minus 2 degrees, Bharmour and Kalpa at minus 1.2 degrees, Narkanda at minus 0.5 degrees, Manali at minus 0.1 degrees, and Shimla at 2.9 degrees Celsius.
Lahaul and Spiti had the most number of roads, 288, closed, followed by Chamba and Kullu, which had 83 and 21 roads rendered unnavigable.
Koksar and Atal Tunnel received 45 cm of snow, followed by Sissu and Kothi, which got 30 cm.
Keylong, Kusumseri, and Bharmour got 18 cm, 15.3 cm, and 8 cm of snow. Manali was wettest with 29 mm of rain, followed by Salooni, and Tissa, and Chamba, which got 25.3 mm, 20 mm, 16 mm of it.
Seobagh and Baijnath got 11 mm and 8.0 mm of rain.
Minimum temperatures across the region dropped by a few notches, with several places shivering under sub-zero temperatures.
Kusumseri was coldest in the state with a low of minus 7.1 degrees, followed by Sumdo minus 2 degrees, Bharmour and Kalpa minus 1.2 degrees, Narkanda minus 0.5 degrees, Manali minus 0.1 degrees, and Shimla 2.9 degrees.
Rain over the past few days has reduced the seasonal winter rain deficit from 58 per cent to 34 per cent.
The state received 104.2 mm against a normal of 158 cm from January 1 to February 21.
The local Meteorological station has predicted dry weather in lower and mid hills for the next four days and rain or snow at isolated places in higher hills on Thursday and Saturday, followed by another wet spell on February 26 and 27.
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